Northern Australia has become Australia’s principal strategic operating base. This report introduces the Preparedness, Resilience and Redundancy scorecard. The scorecard provides policymakers, defence planners and industry with a decision-support framework to identify systemic vulnerabilities, prioritise investment and strengthen Australia’s ability to sustain military operations under pressure.

This report analyses how Australia can translate its strategic focus on the north into operational capability and sustained defence outcomes. It argues for treating the north as an integrated operating system capable of generating, sustaining and scaling combat power. The report highlights key constraints and the need for stronger alignment across defence, government and industry.

Northern Australia sits at the centre of Australia’s defence strategy. Defence activity in the north is increasingly tied to regional economic stability, infrastructure development and the growth of defence-supporting industries. Yet Australia’s northern defence posture has moved through cycles of attention and neglect. This report introduces a new conceptual framework to close that gap.

This report brings together 14 maritime-focused articles highlighting Northern Australia’s pivotal role – and particularly Darwin’s emerging position – as a base for maritime power projection, an Indo-Pacific sustainment hub, and a focal point for regional cooperation and defence investment.

This report showcases how biotechnologies are increasingly being applied across food supply chains, provide value-added opportunities in traditional agriculture and develop new food production systems. The report positions emerging biotechnologies and biomanufacturing as Australia’s best and under-appreciated opportunity to strengthen food security and national resilience, while also opening up substantial economic opportunities.